Work started Monday on the wooden water tower in Barry’s Bay.
According to Madawaska Valley, repairs are being completed to guarantee structural integrity and maintain heritage value. The tower will be framed in scaffolding while beams, joists and braces are replaced.
The tower was purchased by the Town of Barry’s Bay after it was no longer in use by CN in the 1970s, and underwent rehabilitation in the 1980s.
It hasn’t been used for trains since the 1970s.
Hannah Gutoskie, Manager of Recreation and Community Services, told MyBarrysBayNow that the water tower tub has long been empty and is being retained only as a heritage structure. There are no plans to have it ever used to hold water again.
Total cost of the repair work is estimated at $120,000. Gutoskie said the township has invested significantly in previous years to have the plans and reporting in place to have shovels in the ground.
The township said a structural assessment in 2023 found that the timber support structure requires replacement. The following year, a cultural heritage assessment report was completed that detailed the history of the tower and its cultural significance.
The township says the “iconic wooden water tower is the last of its kind in the province.”
Work is expected to wrap up in September.
